Movie Review: Knock at the Cabin

Writer-director M. Night Shyamalan’s new film is powerful genre storytelling

Writer-director M. Night Shyamalan has received criticism from critics over the years. When his body of work is politely referred to, it’s labeled as “hit or miss” or “uneven.”This isn’t an unfair characterization, but it’s worth mentioning that his 30 years in Hollywood have survived This is also true for the vast majority of filmmakers who have worked with us.

So why has Shyamalan attracted so much outright criticism from fans and critics? Maybe because it was a hit (sixth sense, unbreakable When sign) is very good and mistakes are very bad (Lady in the Water, event after earth). Home run or strikeout? feast or famine. It’s the enduring curse of achieving huge box office hits and critical success before you’re 30. If you’re capable of greatness, it’s expected every time you step out of the gate. He is a child prodigy from whom much is expected.

Shyamalan’s latest knock on the cabin, is a strong genre film if movies about the possible coming of the apocalypse are your cup of tea. It’s a scary subject, but it’s not a horror movie. It’s disturbing, even disturbing, but its purpose is not to scare you. knock on the cabin It takes big existential questions about human plight and the nature of sacrifice in an increasingly selfish and skeptical world and wraps them up inside a well-made thriller.

As the film begins, Wen (Kristen Kui) is spending time with her two fathers, Eric (Jonathan Groff) and Andrew (Ben Aldridge), in a quaint cabin in the woods. While Wen is catching grasshoppers in her jar, she encounters Leonard (Dave Bautista). Leonard is a big tattooed man who was supposed to scare her Wen, but instead manages to build a relationship with her. Wen tells Leonard that she shouldn’t talk to strangers. Before starting to debate the proper technique to add her Grasshopper to her collection, he admits it’s a good policy.

Wen’s survival instincts kick in when Leonard’s three companions emerge from the woods with what appear to be weapons. She rushes back to the hut and warns her two fathers. Nowhere. Their phones don’t work, and the family’s guns are safely stored in an almost useless place.

After the dust settles, the four intruders reveal that they will do no harm to Wen and her parents. I have to present an ultimatum to my family. The end of the world is near and the only way to save all of humanity is for Eric, Andrew and Wen to make a blood sacrifice. No. Suicide is impossible. It must be mutual sacrifice. Without sacrifice, the world as we know it would cease to exist.

The white noise and confusion created by this seemingly random threat is deafening to the two men. They enjoy the idea of ​​being targeted because they are a same-sex couple. They’re wrong, but years of bigoted comments, critical views, and outright violence justify their suspicions. The idea of ​​an apocalyptic cult is not implausible, but the intruders have sworn to do them no harm. You are politely asked to choose who you want.

on one level knock on the cabin is a cunning cat-and-mouse thriller about three hostages too precious to be killed by their captives as they try to escape a deadly situation. On a metaphorical level, the film examines the nature of faith, the limits of doubt, and our belief or disbelief in life beyond our physical existence on earth. What emerges from the pressure cooker of this story is a portrait of a family who truly love each other, giving the film the emotional stakes necessary for audiences to be truly invested in the outcome.M. Night Shyamalan I didn’t go to see the movie expecting a touching love story, but I found just that.

The entire cast is solid, grounding a potentially silly storyline with a serious sense.If you think Dave Bautista can only offer physical action as Drax guardian of the galaxy movie, you are wrong.Denis Villeneuve in his brief but excellent work blade runner 2049 Here’s a good tonal comparison to his work. His quiet and sincere performance as Leonard, the leader of the doomsday prophet, is vital to the film’s success. It is certain.it simply teeth. that’s all Eric, Andrew and Wen are able to avert disaster for all mankind. Leonard is not a threat. he is just a messenger.

Shyamalan has always been a master visual stylist. knock It takes place almost entirely inside the classic cabin.Cinematography is presumed to have these limitations, but the director’s effortless focus and effortless use of extreme close-ups and diopter shifts allowed the film to create a surreal visual experience. Given vocabulary, it highlights the otherworldly story that unfolds on the screen. servantShyamalan’s brilliant TV series on Apple TV+, you missed a masterclass in creating compelling visuals in small spaces.)

knock on the cabin No home runs or strikeouts. It may not be a runaway, but it’s definitely not a mistake. It’s a solid genre movie somewhere between those extremes.The Internet loves that list. This is for the best or the worst. What happened to something that was simply “good” or “bad”? There’s nothing wrong with being good.And there’s nothing wrong with watching 100 minutes knock on the cabin.